Hair determination and identification from bird nests

Abstract

The aim of our study was to test a new noninvasive method, the bird-nest analysis in urban environment. The
study area (Merzse-swamp) is located in the south south-west of Budapest. The area is bordered by the M0
motorway (from East), the Ferihegy Airport (from South) and the suburb of the 17th district (from East). We
have collected 13 nests and we have found mammalian hairs in 9 nests (69,23%). From one nest an average
of 5,31 (SE=5,31) hairs were found, from this 3,77 (SE=4,17) were able to be prepared and 2,85 (SE=2,91)
were categorized. We have created 13 categories from the data. 5 of these were species categories (Talpa
europea, Mustela nivalis, Homo sapiens, Lutra lutra and Myoxus glis), 3 of them were twin-species (Rattus
rattus-Rattus norvegicus, Muscardinus avellanarius-Dryomis nitedula and Oryctolagus cuniculus-Lepus
europaeus). These species cannot be exactly identified just by hair morphology (supplementary data is
needed, e.g.: area of distribution). 3 genera were identified (Canidae spp., Chiroptera spp. and
Apodemus/Microtus sp.). Finally, there are 2 categories for unidentifiable hairs („not hair”: revealed during
the microscope study, „unidentifiable”: data deficient). The most common species were Homo sapiens and
Mustela nivalis. In the case of one species (Lutra lutra) we think it would be necessary to confirm the
presence with other observations (visual observation, footprints and remains of preys). According to our
study it has been demonstrated that the nest-analysis can be a useful technique to researchers and urban
wildlife management experts. References from hairs and practice are necessary to get familiar with the
method.